Tijuana
River National Estuarine Research Reserve

Tijuana
River National Estuarine Research Reserve is a coastal estuary located
on the California-Mexico border. This shallow estuary encounters extreme
kinds of water flow in that at certain times of the year, it becomes
dry due to drought. The same area overflows during flood. The reserve’s
salt marsh has a variety of habitats like mudflats, beaches, dunes,
coastal sage, etc. with Tijuana, Imperial Beach and San Diego around
it.

There’s
a wealth of bird life with as many as 370 species of migratory and native
birds using it as a stopover as well as for breeding, nesting and for
food. Six endangered species can be spotted here and this includes the
California least tern, cord grass, brown and white pelicans and various
others.

The marshy estuarine reserve also has fresh water pools and you can
see fairy shrimp and western spade foot toads in them. Because of this
unique habitat, it has become a bird-watcher’s paradise. Close
to four miles of hiking is available and these lead you via the more
important vantage points for birds, going on to the point where Tijuana
River and the Pacific Ocean connect. Visitors are allowed to walk around.
Guided tours are also organized during weekends. You can enjoy a barbeque
and also get to the beach from here. Border Field State Park is also
accessible from here.

The Reserve conducts nature classes for school kids, taking them on
excursions around the reserve in addition to the classroom sessions.
They also run an “adopt the watershed” program. Scientists
recently unearthed an archeological site on the reserve. They believe
that this site will help us understand the link between people and the
wetlands.